04 March,2026 07:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Badshah
Indian rapper Badshah is set to perform at The O2 Arena later this month. He is scheduled to take the stage on March 22 and will become the first Indian rapper to perform at the iconic venue. Ahead of his show, the rapper decided to visit the arena. However, he was denied entry. On March 3, Badshah took to social media and shared a video from outside The O2 Arena.
In a video shared on Instagram, Badshah appeared visibly upset as he walked in front of the venue's closed doors. Dressed in a blue and red jacket with track pants, the singer did not speak in the clip.
Text over the video read, "Andar ghusne nahi diya, ab 22 March ko 20,000 ki family ke saath ghusunga" (They didn't let me in. Now I'll enter on March 22 with my family of 20,000). In the caption, he wrote, "London, izzat ka sawaal hai. 22 March. O2. Tickets link in bio."
The rapper recently created history as the first Indian rapper to take the court at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in Los Angeles. Speaking about representing India, Badshah told IANS, "Moments like these remind me why I started- to break boundaries and create new firsts. I'm carrying the energy of Indian hip-hop, Indian fans, and Indian dreams with me to Los Angeles."
He added, "This moment belongs to all of us. Growing up in India, the NBA felt like a dream world." The Mercy hitmaker said that the NBA sits at "the intersection of sport, music, fashion, and culture," a space he feels he has always operated in.
Badshah performed at the 2026 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game held at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, on February 13, which aired on ESPN.
He joined a dynamic line-up that included Emmy-winning actor Keegan-Michael Key, producer and DJ Mustard, rapper GloRilla, and former NBA All-Star Jeremy Lin, among others. The event also featured a special halftime performance by five-member K-pop group CORTIS.
